Renowned Kannada director Yogaraj Bhat, 3 others booked for death of light operator on film set

A complaint has been filed by Mohan Kumar’s brother Shivaraju M with the Madanayakanahalli police over the death and a case of death due to negligence has been registered against the director, producer, manager, and assistant manager of the production.

In his police complaint, Shivaraju stated that he and his brothers – Mohan Kumar and Hemanth Kumar – worked as light technicians in the Kannada film industry.

He said that they were involved in the production of the film ‘Manada Kadalu’ (The Mind’s Ocean) directed by Bhat and produced by E K Krishnappa when Mohan Kumar fell to his death. Shivaraju complained that no safety measures were provided to light technicians and this resulted in the death of his brother.

The complainant has also named the manager for the production, Suresh Kumar, and assistant manager Manohar for not providing safety measures at the site of the film shooting.

“Over the last 15 days, we were shooting at the VRL Godown. We would work from 9 am to 6 pm and if necessary up to 9 pm. On September 3, we were involved in the lighting work on the sets of the film. At around 5.10 pm, my brother Mohan Kumar was dismantling a 30-feet-tall light rostrum.

“Me and another person were holding the rostrum while Mohan was working on the top. Mohan was working without any safety equipment or aid. The rostrum fell suddenly and along with it Mohan fell to the ground resulting in a serious head injury,” Shivaraju stated.

Although Mohan Kumar was rushed to a nearby hospital and later to a hospital in Bengaluru, he was declared dead at 6.30 pm, stated the complaint.

A case has been registered against the filmmakers under Section 106 (causing death due to negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.